Forestall Disease 



important thing to attend to is, therefore, the 

 prevention of attack. Not only is " prevention 

 better than cure " ; it is often the only way to 

 avoid death. 



Diseases due to fungi and bacteria are generally 

 characterised by the formation of spots of various 

 colours on the affected parts of the plant, these spots 

 being either masses of spores or fxmgus fruits, or 

 groups of dead or damaged ceUs ; or by locally 

 increased growth ; or by the destruction of parts of 

 the plants ; in aU cases accompanied by the causal 

 organism, either immediately or in the near neigh- 

 bourhood. The attack is dependent upon 



(1) The presence of the fungus or its spores ; 



(2) The plant being of a variety Uable and in a 



condition suitable to attack ; 



(3) The conditions of moisture, air, and warmth, 



etc., being suitable for the germination of 

 the spores and the growth of the fungus. 

 The attack starts in one or a few places and 

 progresses more or less rapidly according to the 

 nature and condition of the plant and its surround- 

 ings. The disease is very " catching," and not only 

 the diseased plant but its immediate surroundings 

 are likely to be a source of infection to others if the 

 disease is allowed to continue long. 



The sudden death of a plant without previous 

 symptoms of ill-health is not likely to point to fungus 

 attack as a cause. Fungus attacks may appear to be 



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